<p>you can buy at Bed Bath and just have them ship directly to school. Either online or pick out at the store. (Don’t know if other stores do this but likely they do). There will be a sale of goods left in dorm prior year (fundraiser) ON MOVE IN DAY. This can be a good way to buy a refrig but is uncertain; worth a walk through though.</p>
<p>@student4ever</p>
<p>My daughter and her roommates wanted to wait and see what their room looked like before buying items for their common room. So, we didn’t bring a fridge/microwave to school, but on move-in day, outside of the Science Center, Harvard Student Agencies was selling slightly used mini-fridges. I think we paid $80 for one. Technically microwaves, even those sold as combo micro-fridges by HSA, are illegal because they violate Massachusetts Sanitary Code. See: [What</a> If It Were All a Lie? | FM | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/10/10/what-if-it-were-all-a/]What”>The Harvard Crimson). The university basically looks the other way with the issue, except during “announced inspections.” We ended up buying a 700 watt microwave from Target and my daughter hid it under her bed and threw a towel over it during winter and spring break.</p>
<p>^^My daughter said that even for the “announced inspections” if you go to even the barest effort to hide your microwave, like say drape an old towel over it, they’ll pretend not to see it and let it slide by.</p>
<p>The way my son looked at it freshman year was a mini-fridge would be very useful, convenient, and fit in their common room so that they had. On the microwave, he felt like it would take up space, leave a lingering smell in their rooms from the food, and he saw no reason to break any rules whether they were semi-enforced or not. His roommate agreed. Whenever they wanted to heat something up, which was not that often, they just popped down to the common kitchen.</p>
<p>scrappy25, not sure if others had this experience but when my older son headed to cambridge 3 years ago I flew out to bring his stuff and do shopping in the area. I found that the local targets and walmarts shelves were pretty cleaned out of things like desk lamps and small trash bins. Even the ones further out were wiped pretty clean. If shopping at BB&B I would order ahead of time for store pick up. For my younger son I am trying to have most things purchased online and shipped although I will be coming up for a few days to help with big purchases for the common room.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, appreciate it! Sounds like preordering and shipping is the way to go. The yard sale sounds good too but perhaps more iffy. </p>
<p>Another question- right now I have a flight back Tuesday evening, but looking at the schedule, the only parents events on Movein are Monday. Not sure if I should change my flight to Monday night or Tuesday am, dont’ want to hang out just myself. My hubby will be at a family wedding on the West Coast, we are doing the divide and conquer thing to be in two places the same weekend.</p>
<p>BBB delivers to campus. You can order at your local store, or on the internet, and have it delivered to the dorm room on move-in day. </p>
<p>With regards to the flight, if it doesn’t cost too much, you can change it – or stay the extra day and enjoy Boston, as there are so many fun things to do!</p>
<p>Last year the only events for parents were during the day of move-in. We were so busy we missed out on the parents events. My D had 3 roommates and since we had to wait until the 3rd roommate arrived to unpack and move-in. She arrived after lunch. We were planning on eating in Anneburg for dinner but the line was long so we ate at a place in Cambridge and then said our goodbyes. I believe the freshman had a mandantory dorm meeting at 6:00pm. We briefly saw her the next day because she forgot something in our suitcase but we only saw her for a few minutes. If the ticket isn’t too expensive change the flight and go to the wedding. If it is too expensive to change then go sight seeing in Boston. BTW my D did FOP and we live on the West Coast. We mailed items and we also flew Southwest Airlines. No baggage fees and each brought 2 huge suitcases full of clothes and other things.</p>
<p>Please forgive me if this questioin has already been answered. I scrolled through prior posts and didn’t see the answer. My S will be a sophomore at Winthrop House. Last year as a freshman, we received instructions as to where to report for move in day. I do not see anything on the H website about how the process works for upperclassman. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>At Mather, you pull up to the curb in front of the building and unload the car. Harvard Police give you about 10-15 minutes before asking you to move-on.</p>
<p>When you pull up to the curb to unload, you just leave your things on the sidewalk? Or right inside of the building?</p>
<p>Usually there are lots of cars behind you waiting to unload, so the Police ask you to leave everything on the sidewalk and move your car. My daughter stayed with her belongings while I parked the car.</p>
<p>BTW: If you park your car in a metered spot in Cambridge, you cannot just re-feed the meter every two hours. You must move your car to another spot or the Cambridge Police will give you a $25 ticket. (I got one of those last year.)</p>
<p>good to know, thanks Gibby! </p>
<p>For any parents whose children have done a pre-orientation program, were the students allowed to sleep in their assigned dorms the night before the official move in? I am participating in one of those programs and we will begin moving in at 5pm the night before.</p>
<p>In year’s past, students who are on campus for a pre-orientation program are allowed to pick up their room key at 5pm the day before move-in day and sleep in their assigned room. My daughter did dorm crew her freshman year and we were able to move her into her actual dorm around 7pm the night before move-in day, thereby avoiding the crowds the next day. Official announcements about key availability did not occur until 2 days prior to move-in, so you have to be prepared for last minute notification.</p>
<p>Thanks! I was told 5pm this year also. My parents are coming up and we will try to get the bulk of my stuff in that night.</p>
<p>Yes, my D got her key and was able to move in the night before and a few of her belongings but we did not unpack anything until all of the roommates were present!! The last roommmate showed up with family around 1 in the afternoon. Harvard doesn’t like people to pick beds and furniture untill all arrive.</p>
<p>My D will be a Sophomore and I am curious about move-in for her. I believe move-in for returning students is August 30th. She stored most of her stuff in the House so hopefully, it won’t be too difficult for her to get her stuff to her room. I won’t be helping her move in this year:(</p>
<p>I know about the rule, but does that still apply if roommates have already decided ahead of time? I’m in a 3-person suite and we decided how to split up the rooms already (my two roommates will be switching for the single midyear, I will remain in the double all year).</p>
<p>MMmmm…I’m not sure!! I know the the Proctor will walk around the dorms and advise to wait but sounds like you may have a unique situation! Good Question!!</p>
<p>@CPUscientist3000: The rule is in the freshman handbook, page 10: <a href=“http://www.fdo.fas.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic507157.files/1343138908/2016FYGbook.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fdo.fas.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic507157.files/1343138908/2016FYGbook.pdf</a></p>
<p>Choosing a Bed
The residential staff REQUIRES that students wait for all suitemates to arrive before choosing individual beds or “setting up house.”</p>
<p>Even though you have decided beforehand, it’s best to wait until all of your roommates are there, just in case you have a “by the rules” proctor. You don’t want to unpack all your stuff only to be told by the proctor that you can’t do that. It might make move-in day more hellish than it needs to be.</p>